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True Love

The love I have for Ashlynn overwhelms me. It’s the purest form of love I can imagine and the closest understanding my mind can grasp regarding God’s love for us. Words aren’t adequate to explain it, but here’s my best attempt.

I love my living children deeply and would do anything for them. I love them in spite of their flaws and regardless of what they might or might not do for me. But as every parent knows (why does there always have to be a “but” clause?), there are times when cross words are exchanged. Kids mess up. Parents mess up. Each says and does things that are less than perfect. Of course, those things don’t change my love for my kids. I’ll always love them. Yet, with Ashlynn there was a purity that doesn’t exist with my other children. Not once did I have an irritable thought or frustration with Ashlynn. Not one negative thought! And, when I looked at her, I didn’t see her imperfections. I saw her beauty. My love for her was pure, untainted. Again, I love my other children dearly and equally, but our humanity gets the best of us and we’ve therefore had our moments of frustration and disappointments.

Ashlynn holds a special place in my heart because of this purity I experienced with her. Surely this is how God intended love to be. So pure and encompassing that it can’t be contained. It can’t even be fully explained. What a huge blessing that I was able to experience it and capture those moments in time with her, albeit brief.

After much thought and reflection, I’ve come to think that Ashlynn’s life reveals a glimpse of how God sees us. He looks at us through the lens of Christ. Our sins covered with His perfect sacrifice. He knows we’re imperfect, yet loves us infinitely. He doesn’t view us with our list of sins and shortcomings pinned to our shirts. Those are nailed to the cross. I didn’t look at Ashlynn as a list of defects. I saw her as a beautiful creation – warm brown hair, perfectly painted pink lips, satin skin – I saw her as my child, deeply loved and cherished. God sees us the same. Unfortunately, I forget that at times. As tears trickle down my cheeks, I’m again grateful that God gave me a living, breathing picture of His love for me. I struggle to comprehend it… but then I remember Ashlynn and it becomes real. Sweet salve for my soul, and oh what a blessing!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

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Welcome

Cindy Shufflebarger is an author and speaker with a passion for helping women enjoy more… not more stuff, or more success, but more life. She points the way to a life of abundance and freedom through a meaningful relationship with God. Having experienced His grace and love, her desire is for others to discover it too. Her message will give you hope as you:

•Build your confidence to follow God in faith instead of living in fear.